(Send legal news items to drainey@delawarebusinessnow.com. Law notes are posted on Tuesdays on most weeks.
Former Justice Holland gets door tenant status in UK
Last month, 3 Hare Court announced that former Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, Randy Holland became a door tenant, a rarity in the United Kingdom.
To have international lawyers and former judges as door tenants is not unusual: Australian, Singaporean, South African and Indian nationals are common at many of the larger commercial sets. Not so for Americans. [Not a valid template]
At 39, Holland was appointed as the youngest ever Supreme Court Justice in Delaware, a position he held for 31 years before retiring from the bench last year.
“The advantage of the split profession in England is the teamwork that you see between barristers and solicitors,’” says Holland. “I have always been impressed by it. What I like about it is the litigation: how everyone tries their best to be helpful to the court, even though you’re an advocate in an adversarial system.”
Since retirement from the bench, Holland has also joined the Delaware office of Palo Alto-based Wilson Sonsini, which is opening a London office.
In terms of his role at 3HC, Holland explains: ‘People call barristers’ chambers and sometimes they are looking for an arbitrator. I can’t go to court, but if someone calls chambers and would like to have an arbitrator with international experience, they can mention that I am affiliated with them.’
A door tenant is a barrister who has been granted permission to join a set of chambers and work with them from a location outside the chambers.
Richards, Layton & Finger elects directors, and counsel
Richards, Layton & Finger announced that, effective July 1 it has elected Robert L. Burns, Travis S. Hunter, and Amanda R. Steele as directors of the firm, and Drew G. Sloan as counsel of the firm.
“Our firm continues to attract exceptional talent,” said Greg Varallo, president of Richards Layton, “and we’re confident that this group of lawyers will carry on our long tradition of delivering outstanding service and excellent legal counsel.”
Burns focuses his practice on corporate and commercial litigation in Delaware’s state and federal courts, including the Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court. Representing Delaware corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and their officers, directors, and managers, he has litigated numerous corporate control, corporate governance, and fiduciary duty matters, as well appraisal actions and contractual disputes.
Hunter litigates complex disputes involving business acquisitions, trade secrets, insurance, products liability, and intellectual property. He has argued cases in all of Delaware’s state and federal courts and represents clients in large commercial disputes in the Delaware Superior Court’s Complex Commercial Litigation Division. Travis also represents clients in alternative dispute resolution proceedings before the American Arbitration Association.
Steele focuses her practice on corporate bankruptcy, restructuring, and other insolvency matters, representing both creditors and debtors in all aspects of chapter 11 cases. She is also a member of the firm’s substantive non-consolidation opinion team. Amanda is vice chair of the Delaware Network of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, which named her a 2016 Rising Star Award Finalist.
Sloan provides counsel and legal opinions in connection with a wide range of formation, operational, and governance matters involving Delaware limited partnerships and limited liability companies. His practice includes advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, conversions, and dissolutions, as well as investment fund, structured finance, joint venture, and financing transactions. Drew also has experience representing debtors, secured creditors, and other parties in interest in large chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.
Richards, Layton & Finger, Delaware’s largest law firm and one of its oldest, helps clients navigate complex issues and the intricacies of Delaware law.
Morris James consolidates Rehoboth offices
Morris James LLP announced the relocation of its two current Rehoboth Beach offices to a newly designed office space at 19339 Coastal Highway in the Lingo Building, just behind WSFS.
Working with the development team, the firm renovated the new 4,000 square foot space to include six offices; enhanced staff facilities; and two large conference centers.
Said managing partner Keith Donovan, “This is the right time for us to relocate due to the rapid growth of our services in Sussex County. In addition to offering a more modern and efficient office for our full-time Rehoboth Beach attorneys and staff, the new space will allow attorneys located in Georgetown, Dover, Newark and Wilmington to meet and better serve clients in Sussex County.”
The office offers a comprehensive range of legal services in response to expanding needs of this vibrant Delaware seaside community and the surrounding coastal areas of eastern Sussex County.
The office provides business and personal representation in real estate, tax and business planning, employment law, estate planning, healthcare law, land use, corporate/commercial transactions and litigation, family law and personal injury.
The Morris James offices located at 402 Rehoboth Beach Avenue and 19470 Coastal Highway will close their doors on June 27th. The new Rehoboth Beach office opened July 2nd.
Morris James has offices in all three Delaware counties.
